Rebuilding 'High Tech Games'.

[blueznl]

Stripped an old cabinet and trying to drive myself crazy getting all the controls in. I gave up on spinner or trackball (unless I could do a 'SpinStik' hack http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=20018.40  ) so I'll settle for a regular 2 player 7 button each setup.

I'm reusing as much as I can, but the monitor was shot and the control panel is steel with a horrible layout, so it's a new CP anyway. It's just a generic cab and I've got a 19" old PC CRT lined up to go in there.


Edit 2008: just got another somewhat reusable CP that I'm going to refurbish, another problem solved.


Now the questions :-)

1. Admin buttons ON TOP?

As I'm trying to get as much into as little space as possible, I suddenly got the crazy idea of putting the admin buttons ON TOP of the cabinet. The cabinet I'm working on isn't that high so they are properly accessible, and don't disturb the general look of the machine. Is this a good or a stupid idea? (And with on-top I mean the top of the cabinet...)
 
2. Distance CP to pinball button.

I still haven't decided if I'd add a pinball button or not... But if I do so, could someone tell me how much distance there is between the flipper buttons and the top of a real pinball machine? Due to the small size of the CP I might have to place them a bit lower, and I just cannot recall the exact position of those things on the real deal.

3. Fixing control panel.

I'm about to screw in the new CP. So here goes the question: how many times do you actually modify your CP because something is broken? I'm not planning to rebuild this one, so if the answer is 'pretty close to never' I'm probably simply gonna fix the panels by screwing it in.

[Turnarcades]

Many generic British JAMMA cabinets had the start buttons on the front of the control panel at either side. This is something I extended on with my machines, adding a credit button next to each, and having four buttons in a line across the front for the admin buttons. As my machines are in black, and so are the admin buttons, it leaves an undisturbed look on the front, and keeps them out of the way.

[blueznl]

Back in 2007 I started this one, then parked it for modifying another cab. Which I was never happy about, sooo... I sold it. (Well, pretty much stripped it then gave the remains away.)

So, it's back to this one again...

On of the stoppers was the screen size. A HP P1100 21" is just a little too big, but I finally found a way: I decased it, and will modify the backside of the cab a little, making it JUST fit.

Just decased the screen, at least that's a start 

I've given up on making it do everything, that's for the future. This one is just going to be plain Mame, and whatever else runs with standard 8 way sticks. No fancy stuff.

Found another fitting CP that I'm going to abuse, someone modified it, but I can rework it to something better I think.

[Turnarcades]

That's good news. Generic cabinets always make for good coversions as their (relatively unobtrusive and simple) design means you can make the bab fit anywhere and easily modify the panel with a good two-player layout. I personally don't play that many analog control games anyway (never did back in the day either), and a regular 2-player fighting layout is enough for most people.

[blueznl]

Because it is a rather small cab, the CP is going to be very tight. I may have to settle for a very basic, somewhat cramped layout...

stick - 6 buttons - stick - 6 buttons

There are already two buttons on the front (easily removed to another position though) but I'm still a bit puzzling.

... with perhaps start buttons on the front. I may end up putting credit and function buttons on top, to keep them out of reach of little kiddie hands, but haven't decided that yet.

This weekend I'm going to put the screen in.